Veteran ESPN motorsports commentator Marty Reid will lead the network's coverage of the IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500 in 2007, his second season as lead announcer. The season will begin with a live primetime telecast from Homestead-Miami Speedway March 24 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Booth analyst Scott Goodyear and pit reporter Jack Arute will also return to the coverage team this season, with pit reporter Vince Welch returning to a fulltime role after working selected races the past two seasons. Joining the team as pit reporter will be Indianapolis native Brienne Pedigo.
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Misc.

Graham Rahal To Race Sebring For Rahal Letterman Racing
Rahal Letterman Racing (RLR) announced today that Graham Rahal, the 18-year-old son of co-owner Bobby Rahal will drive for the team at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring next week. Rahal will join RLR’s duo of Ralf Kelleners and Tom Milner to comprise the driving trio for the team’s first race in the American Le Mans Series GT2 class.

Graham Rahal, who is considered by many in the media to be one of the brightest young prospects in all of racing, will make his second start at Sebring having raced last season for Alex Job Racing in the GT2 class. Rahal enjoyed a breakout season in 2006 taking second in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship and leading the series in wins (5) and pole positions (4) and leading nearly 40% of the laps he ran. He also ran one-off events at Sebring and the 24 Hours of Daytona as well as selected events in the A1GP Series.

“I have been fortunate to drive in some of the most prestigious road races in the sport over the last couple of years,” said Graham who was named the BBS of America Rising Star last season by Champ Car World Series. “I may be young, but everyone in the racing understands the significance of Sebring and what winning this event means on a drivers resume. One thing my Dad and I have tried to do over the last couple of seasons is to get as much practical experience as possible driving in different cars and series. This isn’t the first time I have raced for my Dad (Formula BMWUSA in 2004), but it is the first time I have raced for his team at this level and hopefully I can help make RLR’s ALMS debut successful.”

“One of the most common questions I have been asked since we formed the ALMS team is if Graham was going to drive for us,” said Bobby Rahal who won the Twelve Hours of Sebring in 1987 and was inducted into the Sebring Hall of Fame in 2004. “Graham’s 2007 season is shaping up to be extremely busy and I really didn’t think he would have the opportunity to race in any of the events, but things have worked out and he is available for Sebring. On a competitive side I think we have three outstanding drivers in Ralf [Kelleners], Tom [Milner] and Graham, and I like the depth in our driving corps for the event. Anytime you begin a new venture there is a level of excitement and anticipation. Having Graham be part of our ALMS program’s debut seems fitting to me on a personal level.”

IRL

Kid Rock To Rock Carb Day
Rock icon Kid Rock will be the headline act for the Miller Lite Carb Day Concert on Friday, May 25 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Miller Brewing Company and IMS officials announced today. The concert is free to all ticket holders for Miller Lite Carb Day, the final day of on-track activity before the 91st Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 27. Additionally, legal-drinking-age race fans can win tickets in promotional 24-packs of Miller Lite starting in April.

"The Miller Lite Carb Day concert is the ultimate convergence of two of America's favorite pastimes - rock and racing," said Dockery Clark, director of sports and alliance marketing at Miller Brewing Company. "Kid Rock is known for his energetic and exciting live performances, so he's sure to get the fans at Carb Day revved up for the big race."

Miller Lite is the official beer sponsor of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Miller Lite Carb Day concert, which takes place on the Miller Lite Stage in the infield of the Speedway's oval, is the final event of an action-packed day for fans at IMS. The final practice for the IndyCar® Series before the 91st Indianapolis 500 starts the on-track activity from 11 a.m.-noon (ET). The Freedom 100 race for the Indy Pro SeriesT starts at 12:30 p.m., followed by the popular Checkers/Rally's Pit Stop Challenge at 1:30 p.m. The Miller Lite Carb Day Concert is scheduled to start at approximately 3:30 p.m.

General admission tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance online at (www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com), via phone at (317) 492-6700 or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or at the Ticket Office at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Tickets also can be purchased at the gate. All Miller Lite Carb Day activities are included in the ticket price.

IRL

Ritmo Named Official Timepiece Of IndyCar Series

The IndyCar® Series today announced a multi-year partnership with Ritmo Mundo, the Beverly Hills, Calif.-based maker of watches, clocks and watchcases that has been acclaimed for offering a wide selection of timepieces that blends tradition with trends.

The five-year partnership makes Ritmo the official timepiece of the IndyCar Series and Indy Pro SeriesT and includes a licensing agreement for IndyCar Series-branded Ritmo timepieces that can be expanded to include driver-branded timepieces in the near future.

As part of the partnership, Ritmo will present a $100,000 watch to the IndyCar Series championship driver and a watch to each IndyCar Series race winner as well as a $25,000 watch to the Indy Pro Series championship driver and a timepiece to each Indy Pro Series race winner...
More...(Speed News Now)

IRL

Kid Rock To Rock Carb Day
Rock icon Kid Rock will be the headline act for the Miller Lite Carb Day Concert on Friday, May 25 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Miller Brewing Company and IMS officials announced today. The concert is free to all ticket holders for Miller Lite Carb Day, the final day of on-track activity before the 91st Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 27. Additionally, legal-drinking-age race fans can win tickets in promotional 24-packs of Miller Lite starting in April.

"The Miller Lite Carb Day concert is the ultimate convergence of two of America's favorite pastimes - rock and racing," said Dockery Clark, director of sports and alliance marketing at Miller Brewing Company. "Kid Rock is known for his energetic and exciting live performances, so he's sure to get the fans at Carb Day revved up for the big race."

Miller Lite is the official beer sponsor of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Miller Lite Carb Day concert, which takes place on the Miller Lite Stage in the infield of the Speedway's oval, is the final event of an action-packed day for fans at IMS. The final practice for the IndyCar® Series before the 91st Indianapolis 500 starts the on-track activity from 11 a.m.-noon (ET). The Freedom 100 race for the Indy Pro SeriesT starts at 12:30 p.m., followed by the popular Checkers/Rally's Pit Stop Challenge at 1:30 p.m. The Miller Lite Carb Day Concert is scheduled to start at approximately 3:30 p.m.

General admission tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance online at (www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com), via phone at (317) 492-6700 or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or at the Ticket Office at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Tickets also can be purchased at the gate. All Miller Lite Carb Day activities are included in the ticket price.

Sprint Cars

Silver Crown To Run New Hampshire Int'l Speedway
New Hampshire International Speedway (NHIS) has announced the addition of the New Hampshire 75 for the United States Auto Club (USAC) Silver Crown Series presented by K&N Engineering on Saturday, September 15. The New Hampshire 75 will be part of an already action packed NASCAR SYLVANIA 300 event weekend. The New Hampshire 75 will also be the first USAC Silver Crown Series presented by K&N Engineering race ever run in New Hampshire and in New England. “The Magic Mile” is the 41st track to host the USAC Silver Crown Series.

“To say we are anything less than ecstatic about the USAC Silver Crown Series coming to New Hampshire International Speedway would be an understatement,” said USAC President/CEO Rollie Helmling. “USAC participants and fans are thrilled to be included in this great racing weekend. We have a strong fan following in New England and the addition of USAC Racing will greatly enhance what is already one of America's greatest racing weekends.”

USAC was founded in 1955 and currently operates 19 series of automobile racing and annually sanctions and conducts in excess of 300 events. In addition, USAC Properties Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of USAC, conducts land speed record trials and automotive testing for many leading manufacturers in the United States. USAC is a member organization of the Automobile Competition Committee of the United States (ACCUS-FIA), which provides a direct link with the International motor sports governing body, and FIA, and in that capacity serves as the host nation organizing club for the United States Grand Prix.

Good seats are available for the USAC Silver Crown Series presented by K&N Engineering New Hampshire 75 on Saturday, September 15. Saturday’s schedule will also feature the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series New Hampshire 200 and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour New Hampshire 100. Tickets may be ordered by calling Speedway Guest Services at (603) 783-4931 or by visiting the Speedway’s Web Site at (www.nhis.com) to purchase tickets online.

Champ Cars

Champ Car Schedule Changes Again
The Champ Car World Series is once again tinkering with its 2007 schedule. Almost a month after cancelling its event in Denver comes word that the series is preparing to switch the date of its inaugural race in China from the spring to the fall. According to SpeedTV.com, the race in Zhuhai scheduled for May 20 will now be held on October 28, one week after the Surfers Paradise race in Australia.

The decision will mean the series will not stage any races during the month of May, giving teams an opportunity to qualify and participate in the Indianapolis 500 if they choose. It also means that there will now be a six week gap between races on the schedule from Houston in April to Portland in June.

Another scheduling change which has yet to be made official is the switch of Champ Car's inaugural race in Belgium. Originally scheduled for September 9, the official website of the Zolder circuit now lists the race as being held on August 26. That means there will now be two weeks in between the Champ Car event and the Formula One race being staged at Spa-Francorchamps. Teams will then race in Assen, Holland on September 2 before taking another six week break until the Australian race on October 21.(tsn.ca)

Champ Cars

Champ Cars Adds To PR Staff
The Champ Car World Series today bolstered its efforts in the communications and public relations areas by contracting with veteran communications professional Sid Priddle to serve as a consultant to the series effective immediately. Priddle’s list of accomplishments includes successful stints with Team KOOL Green in the 1990s, Canada’s famed Torchia public relations agency and has served as the head of communications of the highly-successful Champ Car Grand Prix of Edmonton for the first two seasons. Priddle was also the Communications Director for the Molson Indy for the first 10 years of the event and spent several years managing Player's motorsport programs.

“I have always been a supporter of the Champ Car World Series and now I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to work with all the members of the team.” Priddle said.

Priddle will be tasked with developing overall communications strategy along with numerous specialty projects as they relate to Champ Car communications. He will also work closely with Brener, Zweikel & Associates, which is Champ Car’s outside public relations agency, in order to build a more comprehensive mainstream exposure plan for the series.

The Champ Car World Series will continue its 2007 preseason testing schedule in two weeks as the field heads to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for its official Spring Training test session. The new DP01 Champ Cars will be on track Friday and Saturday March 9-10 as the teams and drivers of the Champ Car World Series look to prepare for the season-opening Vegas Grand Prix, which takes place April 6-8 on the streets of Las Vegas.

Champ Cars

Atlantic Series Feeds Champ Car's Future
As the beginning of the 2007 season approaches, both the present of the Champ Car Atlantic Championship and the future of the Champ Car World Series couldn't be brighter.Following a thrilling 2006 season Atlantic series season that brought a return to glory for North America's premiere open-wheel development formula, the stage is set for an even more exciting campaign in the 2007 Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda. And Atlantic is poised to continue feeding the pipeline of racing talent directly into Champ Car.

Atlantics has long been established as the top training ground for the future stars of Champ Car. Such well-established drivers as Jimmy Vasser, Bobby Rahal, Jacques Villeneuve, Paul Tracy, Danny Sullivan, Michael Andretti, Alex Tagliani, Patrick Carpentier and A.J. Allmendinger, just to name a few, all came up through the Atlantic ranks on their way to Champ Car stardom.

In 2006, the Atlantic Championship continued to produce the next generation of Champ Car World Series standout racers as '05 Atlantic champion Charles Zwolsman and three-time Atlantic race-winner Katherine Legge graduated to Champ Car. They were joined at the top level of American open-wheel racing last season by other recent Atlantic series stalwarts Andreas Wirth, Tonis Kasemets and David Martinez. In addition to proud Atlantic graduates Vasser, Tracy, Tagliani and Allmendinger, 2004 Atlantic Rookie of the Year Andrew Ranger also starred in Champ Car last season.